How to Drop a Stone

A stone is a British measurement that translates to about 14 pounds. While many fad diets claim to help you to lose a stone or more over a short period of time, fad diets usually lead to quick weight loss, followed by near-immediate weight gain. Lifelong weight loss is about changing your diet and exercise habits to help you lose excess pounds -- and keep them off. Here are some basic tips that, when followed, should help most people lose 14 or more pounds -- and keep them off.

Things You'll Need

• Pedometer
• Small dinner plates

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Instructions

• 1

  Walk everywhere you can; 45 minutes a day of brisk walking has been shown to help most people lose or maintain their weight, all other habits remaining equal. Buy a pedometer and make it your goal to walk at least 10,000 steps a day.

• 2

  Drink mostly water, especially after breakfast. Have a juice or coffee in the morning and drink water for the rest of the day. Beverages like soda, alcohol and juice can add several hundred extra calories a day to your diet.

• 3

  Start with a salad. Eating a salad or a portion of low-calorie vegetables before your meal will help you become full from nutritious foods while not depriving you of eating meats, dairy or fats.

• 4

  Eat your meals on smaller plates. Filling a smaller plate with food is an easy way to trick your body into eating less, but you feel as if you had the same portion size.

• 5

  Enjoy your meals by eating slowly and at the table. It takes your brain 20 minutes to gauge how full you are, so eating slowly and deliberately means eating only what your body needs, without overeating.

• 6

  Take it slow. Weight loss is about changing your habits for life, so do not get discouraged if you do not drop a lot of weight right away. Keep up the healthy habits and the weight loss will eventually follow.